UPDATED: Trustees dump board reduction idea

Complications, conflict result in split decision on board makeup

During its regular meeting Wednesday evening, the board voted 4-2 by voice vote to abandon plans to put the matter to a vote during the next election. In July Trustee Carolyn Jackson presented the idea of going down from seven board members to five. The board has been frustrated with trying to find new trustees and, with the exception of two months earlier this year, hasn't had a full board for nearly a year.

During discussion of the issue Wednesday evening a question arose over whether term-limited trustees can be re-appointed even after their terms expire, if no one else steps forward to run. Jackson, who was charged with researching the matter of reducing the size of the board, said she found no reference to that question and so assumed it could not be done. Mayor Amy Sorensen asked if the matter could be tabled again so that issue could be cleared up, but other trustees wanted to drop the matter entirely.

Jackson herself was appointed under unusual circumstances and finally sworn in in February to replace a trustee who resigned in August 2016. State law requires a trustee to be replaced within 60 days or hold an election. The problem was, after the 60 days lapsed, there still weren't any candidates, and when Jackson finally did come forward, there was no opposition. The board consulted with Colorado Municipal League and the Colorado Department of Local Affairs before deciding to swear Jackson in.

Two months later Mayor Bob Suarez resigned, leaving yet another vacancy to be filled, and Iliff finds itself again beyond the 60-day requirement, again with no viable applicants. Asked Wednesday evening whether applicants are still being sought, Sorensen said the opening is still posted and several residents have been approached, but there are no willing candidates at this time.

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In other business, the board continued to make headway with sorting out its budget problems. Mayor Sorensen showed the trustees copies of a six-month budget report that was generated with QuickBooks. There were some line items in the expenditure columns that weren't budgeted, so an amended budget will have to be submitted with those items in it.

"What we're hoping is that, when it comes time to make our (2018) budget we'll have spotted all of these and have line items for them in the budgeting process," Sorensen said.

The board also continued to make progress with its animal control problems Wednesday. The trustees adopted Logan County's Ordinance No. 08-01, which now supersedes the town's own ordinance, No. 4-2016. In October, the board will adopt an intergovernmental agreement with Logan County so the Sheriff's Office can help enforce the animal control ordinance.

Iliff residents have complained repeatedly about neighbors who willfully violate the town's animal ordinance, and the town has had trouble enforcing its licensing and vaccination requirements. With the IGA, the sheriff's office will be able to write citations and summonses. The town also has set up a municipal court mechanism whereby those requirements can be given weight of law.

Earlier in the evening, the board approved by voice vote an event liquor license for the Caliche School Alumni Association. Daniel Gonzales appeared on behalf of the association and said the group wants to honor past homecoming kings and queens at the Caliche Homecoming Oct. 20. Part of the celebration will include a meet-and-greet at the Iliff Community Center, and the Alumni want to serve kegged beer. The event already has the approval of the Community Center Board of Directors.

Justin John Pool, who was at the meeting, later told the Journal-Advocate he thought it was noteworthy that the Community Center Board rebuffed his project to feed hungry children one day a week in Iliff because of liability issues, "but they approve a kegger ... with no problem."

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